The subject of an order for two prototypes on 31 May 1946, the SO 8000 Narval (Narwhal) was conceived by a team under the leadership of Ing Dupuy at the Societe Nationale de Constructions Aeronautiques de Sud-Ouest (SNCASO) as a shipboard fighter and attack aircraft. Of twin-boom configuration with a sweptback wing - 24° inboard and 13.5° outboard on the leading edge - and a tricycle undercarriage, the Narval was powered by an Arsenal 12 H-02 (Junkers Jumo 213) engine rated at 2,250hp, installed as a pusher and driving contra-rotating propellers. Proposed armament comprised six 20mm cannon with provision for up to 1000kg of external ordnance. Development was somewhat protracted, and the first flight (by the second prototype) did not take place until 1 April 1949, the second following on 30 December. Numerous problems arose during the test programme, dictating changes in the control surfaces, the air intakes and the propellers (Rotol propellers replacing the original Chauviere units); constant troubles were experienced with the engine, and, following the generally unfavourable results of evaluation at the Centre d'Essais en Vol in January 1950, development of the Narval was discontinued. The second prototype effected its 43rd and last flight on 8 January 1950, and the first prototype flew only once. Proposals to adapt the design for a Rolls-Royce Nene turbojet as the SO 8010 were not pursued. The quoted performance was not, in fact, achieved during flight test.

3-View

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A three-view drawing (1000 x 585)

Specification

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WEIGHTS

Loaded weight

6606 kg

14564 lb

Empty weight

4821 kg

10629 lb

DIMENSIONS

Wingspan

11.77 m

39 ft 7 in

Length

11.83 m

39 ft 10 in

Height

3.20 m

11 ft 6 in

Wing area

26.30 m2

283.09 sq ft

PERFORMANCE

Max. speed

730 km/h

454 mph

Range w/max.fuel

4500 km

2796 miles

Comments

steve, 12.05.2011

I have doubts about a pusher like this as a shipboard aircraft. It would seem difficult to arrange the geometry of the tailhook to clear the propeller.

Michael Schaefer, 03.10.2007

Hello,

about that ARSENAL company, which re-manufactured the JUMO 312-engine:

Has it been closed - or was it merged with other companies later?

Were these companies still in business?

Where would the archives of the ARSENAL-company have gone to, anyway? Are there any specialists known for ARSENAL? Any information would be welcome.

Frank Curzon, 11.09.2007

I am drawing up a flying model of the SO-8000 for electric power - has anyone done this before ?

Bernhard C. F., 18.06.2007

Your photo of SO-8000 as well as 3-view drawing, show 2nd prototype, SO 8000-02, with so-called "all-flying" tailplane. First prototype, -01, did not have that!